An uplifting experience

Liz tells us her tinnitus story and how technology has helped her experience something truly life-changing

"I was diagnosed with left-sided Ménière's disease thirty years ago. One of the earliest symptoms was low pitched tinnitus.

Ten years ago my Ménière's became bi-lateral with tinnitus both sides.

The usual low pitched hum was joined by other prolonged spells of high pitched excruciatingly loud noise which started in my sleep. I would wake in the early hours terrified by the loud clanging of metal gates, factory machinery, air brakes, train engines, and similar.

I also developed hyperacusis (noise sensitivity) which others find difficult to understand - how can a person with hearing loss hear noises that cause them such acute physical pain and distress?

I dread hearing tests because the higher-pitched sounds really 'hurt'.

My hearing deteriorated and I was given hearing aids and a masking device.

My hearing then deteriorated further

I was given hearing aids that incorporated a programme of soothing sounds to help me.

Earlier this year I realised I could barely hear with or without hearing aids. A hearing test confirmed the further deterioration in both ears and my hearing aids were reprogrammed.

For many years I have missed listening to the radio or my collection of operatic & classical music. Unlike TV there is no subtitles and no pause or rewind facility to replay an item 10 times until I can fathom out what was said! Regular earphones are not an option for me - it would be impossible to avoid sudden loud or high pitched sounds.

Hearing loss is a lonely road and tinnitus is impossible for non-sufferers to comprehend.

It was by chance that I tried AfterShokz bone conduction headphones. My daughter had recently bought a pair to use for business calls.

How to describe my joy at hearing speech and music clearly? I don't even remember a time when I could hear that well.

It was a remarkable and uplifting experience and I am astonished and delighted every time I use them, truly life-changing. Thank you."

Interested in AfterShokz bone conduction headphones?

Please visit our safe and secure online shop for our range of AfterShokz headphones. As we are a charity, buying from us means that any surplus funds help support the work that we do for people living with tinnitus.

AfterShokz Headphones

Comments (0)

Comment (maximum 3500 characters) *

Add a picture

Notify me when someone makes a comment

First name *

Last name *

Email *

Which country do you live in?

Please enter your postcode*

Address line 1

Address line 2

Town or city

At the BTA, we depend on your support and trust in us, as we work towards a world where no one suffers from tinnitus.

To do this we need to ensure the personal data we store gives you the information that you need, in the ways you want to receive it.

If you are happy for the us to contact you about all areas of work relating to the BTA please select the contact types below.

Alternatively, if you prefer to hear about some areas but not others, choose the options that suit you here: https://www.tinnitus.org.uk/forms/your-contact-preferences

Via email

Via telephone

Via SMS

Via post

Which country do you live in?

Please enter your postcode*

Address line 1

Address line 2

Town or city

By submitting this form you are agreeing to our terms and conditions

Using our shop

Thank you for considering purchasing items from the British Tinnitus Association (BTA). We’re confident you will find the items we stock satisfactory, however if you do not, these Terms and Conditions cover our conditions of sale and return.

Terms and conditions

‘you’ or ‘your’ means the person ordering the product or products

‘we’, ‘us’ or ‘our’ means the British Tinnitus Association (BTA)

Products and orders

Orders will be dispatched to you on receipt of payment. If an ordered item is out of stock we will try to contact you.

If we cannot provide you with the products you have ordered, we will give you the option to cancel, place an alternative order or wait until the products are in stock.

We will only process your payment when the products are packed and ready for sending.

We may change or substitute the exact details of products at any time. We will try to tell you of changes that affect your order before we send them to you. We will give you the option to cancel your order. Products can be returned within the 28 day money-back guarantee.

Price and payment

Prices shown include the cost of postage and packing.

We may change prices at any time, but we will tell you about any change in the prices of products you have ordered. We will give you the option to cancel your order.

Cancellation before goods are received

If you wish to cancel an order please tell us no later than 5 working days after the date you placed the order. If you cancel by telephone we will also need written confirmation from you. We will refund the full cost of the order if we receive cancellation within 5 working days after the date you placed the order.

If we receive cancellation after the order has been dispatched the goods must be returned to us. The cost of posting the order back to us will be refunded to you. Products can be returned within our 28 day money-back guarantee (please see below).

Delivery

For orders placed within the UK:
We will endeavour to deliver your products to the address you gave us on your order within 10 working days of your order
All orders will be posted by 2nd class Royal Mail
If you do not receive your products within 10 working days of the date of order you must tell us immediately and no later than 15 working days after the order date
If goods are lost in transit we will send you new products or offer you a full refund after 15 working days from your order date

For orders placed for delivery outside the UK, they will be posted by Royal Mail Airmail, and delivery times cannot be guaranteed.

Shortages, damaged or faulty goods

If the products you receive are damaged in transit, faulty or there is a shortage of products you must let us know by telephoning us or in writing within seven days of receiving the products. Damaged or faulty goods must be returned to us with a filled-in returns form enclosed with the product. We will send you replacement products on receipt of the damaged goods and will refund you the cost of postage in returning the products to us.

Money-back guarantee on delivery of goods

We have a 28-day money-back guarantee with the following condition:

Goods must be returned in ‘as new’ condition with their original packaging and the instruction sheets. A filled-in returns form must be returned with the goods. We will exchange the product or refund the cost of the product. We will not refund the cost of postage in returning goods under the money-back guarantee.

If you return the products that are not ‘as new’ or outside the money-back guarantee we may refuse to give you a refund or may charge you a handling fee.

The guarantee does not apply:
if you have used the products other than to assess whether the product is satisfactory or
if the products have been used incorrectly

Returns

All returns must be sent with a filled in returns form otherwise we may not be able to process your return quickly or at all.

We are not responsible for any products you return until we receive them. We recommend you get proof, from the post office, that you have posted the products onto us.

We will try to process returns within 10 working days of receiving them. If products are returned by Royal Mail it can take up to 15 working days for returns to reach us.

Risk and ownership

You are legally responsible for products you have ordered and have paid for in full as soon as you receive them.

Latest

Tinnitus Researcher Network Inaugural Meeting

Today, we held the very first meeting of the Tinnitus Researcher Network - find out more about its aims and ambitions for the UK tinnitus research community.
Socialising and sound: Does tinnitus make it harder to hear in noisy settings?

We often hear people with tinnitus say that they find it difficult to hear in noisy environments, or ask if tinnitus makes you deaf.
Flare Audio

Find out more about our corporate member Flare Audio
Notice of AGM

The BTA Annual General Meeting will be held online via the Zoom platform at 6.00pm, Thursday 24 September. All are welcome!

Creating a community for digital tinnitus solutions

The BTA brings together people looking to develop digital solutions and management tools to help people living with tinnitus.
Keep Christmas Merry: top tips for avoiding festive fatigue

The holiday season can be a stressful time of year, so we asked our new British Tinnitus Association staff members for their top tips on how to avoid festive fatigue this winter.
Soldiering on: the impact of tinnitus on veterans

The Aged Veterans Project has been completed with the publication of the report 'Soldiering on: the impact of tinnitus on veterans'. Dr Georgie Burns-O'Connell summarises the research here.
What's the real story?

Recent headlines told us “New breakthrough pill could cure tinnitus.” This is game changing news if true – so what’s the real story behind the headline?
BSA Annual Conference: some thoughts

David Stockdale recently attended the British Society of Audiology Annual Conference - here's some of his highlights from a tinnitus perspective
ESIT training school

With Nic Wray, I attended the ESIT training school in Milan. Read our thoughts about it here.
More people living with tinnitus than previously thought

The number of people living with tinnitus in the UK is higher than previously thought.
Isolation: The ‘hidden epidemic’ affecting people with tinnitus

The warning of a ‘hidden epidemic’ of isolation amongst the estimated six million people living with the condition in the UK. Read more here.
FOCUS your e-newsletter

Sign up to our new monthly e-newsletter called Focus
Pete's Big Swim

A big thank you to Peter, who completed his 100 mile swim challenge in 2018. Find out more about his challenge.